Mary Davidson, 27, left, and Monica Rozgay, 29, smile after saying 'I do' at their midnight wedding at The Seattle Yacht Club early Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Seattle. Rozgay and Davidson, of Seattle, are one of the first couples to wed following the passage of Referendum 74, which approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state of Washington. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election results of the referendum on Dec. 5. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) MAGS OUT; USA TODAY OUT; NO SALES; SEATTLEPI.COM OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Photo: Bettina Hansen, Associated Press

Mary Davidson, 27, left, and Monica Rozgay, 29, smile after saying...

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Couples exchange vows during a mass wedding for 25 same-sex partners at Seattle First Baptist Church on December 9, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Today is the first day that same-sex couples can legally wed in Washington state. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

Photo: David Ryder, Getty Images

Couples exchange vows during a mass wedding for 25 same-sex...

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Corianton Hale, right, shares a laugh with partner Keith Bacon as they get ready for their wedding at Seattle City Hall, becoming among the first gay couples to legally wed in the state Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Seattle. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage Wednesday, Dec. 5 and weddings for gay and lesbian couples began in Washington state on Sunday, following the three-day waiting period after marriage licenses were issued earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Scores of same-sex couples crowded Seattle City Hall for a day of wedding ceremonies on Sunday, the first day they could marry after the state's voter-approved same-sex marriage law took effect.

While numerous weddings were taking place across the state, both private and public, the City Hall weddings were the largest public event, with about 140 couples taking part. The city set up five separate chapels to accommodate the revelers.

After couples married, they exited City Hall, greeted by a steady rain and by dozens of supporters who cheered them with shouts of "congratulations" and flowers as they descended a large staircase down to the street.

"I don't even have words for this," said Caren Goldenberg of Seattle, who married her partner of seven years, Casey Evans. "It just makes me really proud of my city."

Mayor Mike McGinn, who greeted couples at they arrived, called it a "great day, a joyous day."

"It's really wonderful," he said. "A new civil right is going to be recognized in this great civil institution."

Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale of Seattle, who celebrated their six-year anniversary the night before, hugged and kissed to loud cheers and camera flashes as they took their vows before one of the 16 local judges who volunteered to officiate the weddings on Sunday.

"We're totally thrilled," Bacon said. The couple had a commitment ceremony in August but said this day was particularly special.

Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states - New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont - and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.